Still playing is not the same as a healed Achilles
Naomi Osaka’s nagging Achilles put court pain back in the news. Finishing a match is not the same as a healed tendon — and recreational players face the same questions.
Gary Feldman, DPM, FACFAS
Blog
Expert orthopedic insights, patient education, and practice news from our fellowship-trained specialists.
Robotic partial knee replacement and recovery
Robotic arm-assisted partial knee replacement is still the same operation on the same part of the knee, but with more precise planning and execution. Studies show it improves implant positioning, soft-tissue balance, and early recovery compared with conventional instruments, while long-term outcomes are similar. The key is choosing the right candidates and an experienced team.
Brian McCormick, MD
Real ACL Risk Reduction For High School Athletes
Practical, evidence-based ACL injury prevention steps for high school athletes this fall, focused on short neuromuscular warm-ups teams will actually use.
Christopher S. Raffo, MD
First-Time Shoulder Dislocation: Fix Now or Rehab?
New randomized data show very high recurrence rates when young athletes treat a first-time shoulder dislocation with immobilization and therapy alone. Arthroscopic Bankart repair lowers the chance of another dislocation and can support safer return to collision and overhead sports, but the decision still depends on age, sport, bone loss, and timing in the season.
Christopher S. Raffo, MD
The Lateral Extraarticular Tenodesis: Should We Be Adding It to Every ACL Reconstruction Surgery?
A second procedure done alongside ACL reconstruction, called a lateral extra-articular tenodesis, is backed by a 618-patient randomized trial and new 2026 data showing lower graft failure and long-term osteoarthritis rates in young, high-risk athletes.
Christopher S. Raffo, MD
Mensicectomy is no better than sham surgery??? What the NEJM Study on Meniscus Surgery Actually Means for Patients
A 10-year follow-up of the FIDELITY trial is being spun as proof that meniscus surgery is useless. An orthopedic surgeon reads the actual numbers — and explains who should keep their meniscus and who can still benefit from surgery.
Christopher S. Raffo, MD
Pickleball Injury Prevention: What Twenty Years in Orthopedics Has Taught Me About Protecting Your Back, Hips, Knees, and Shoulders
Pickleball injuries have risen faster than participation. An orthopedic surgeon explains where the risk actually comes from — and the warm-up and strength work that keeps you on the court.
Christopher S. Raffo, MD
Elbow Pain in Weightlifters: Common Causes and Fixes
If you've ever felt a sharp sting on the inside of your elbow during a heavy curl, a nagging ache on the outside after rows, or a deep throb behind the elbow following bench press, you're far from…
John J. Christoforetti, MD
Returning to sports after Knee Replacement: What to Expect
One of the most common questions I hear from patients considering knee replacement is simple but important: "Doc, will I be able to get back to the things
James S. Gardiner, MD
Sports After Hip Arthroscopy: What's Really Possible?
If you're a runner or active adult dealing with hip pain, you've probably wondered whether hip arthroscopy could realistically get you back on the road, th
John J. Christoforetti, MD
Complex Hand Injuries in Cyclists: From Wrist Fractures to Nerve Damage
Whether you're a dedicated road cyclist logging weekend centuries or a mountain biker tackling rocky singletrack, your hands are doing far more work than y
Peter G. Fitzgibbons, MD
Bunions, Hammertoes, and Foot Pain: When to Consider Surgery
In my practice, I see patients every week who come in frustrated. They've been dealing with a painful bump on the side of their foot or toes that won't st
Gary Feldman, DPM, FACFAS